Color selector and indicator



COLOR SELECTOR AND INDICATOR Filed March 1, 1955 v INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. l5, i936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Application March 1,

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to the art of color, tint or shade selection, and more particularly to indicator devices for facilitating the selection or analysis of colors.

5 The mixing of colors according to conventional practices is largely a hit and miss proposition, or more particularly, a matter of trial and error, and this holds true even today, notwithstanding the trend toward machination in the practical arts to avoid the human element or `personal judgment. Even with the standardization of colors, the mixing of colors to produce a preselected or predetermined shade or tint presents an extremely diicult problem, with which even the expert has trouble. The experts skill results from long experience, and it is common knowledge that experts themselves are prone to disagree and vary in their technique.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a simple color selector or analyzer which will automatically indicate the component parts and their relative proportions for producing a predetermined or preselected cornposite color, shade or tint, all irrespective of the degree of skill or knowledge of the user with color combinations. Accordingly, the selector should be simple in construction and readily understandable by the average person who may be called upon to prepare coloring mediums, such as paints and the like.

It is to be understood that while the invention will be developed herein from the standpoint of analyzing a given or preselected color, breaking the same up into its component parts, With the relativa proportions indicated, such that when said component parts are mixed together in these proportions the said preselected color will be accurately reproduced, the invention may by suitable modification be adapted to the application of indicating complementary or harmonizing colors for corresponding preselected or predetermined colors, shades or tints, as will be apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

In its broadest aspect, therefore, the invention provides for automatically indicating the results of practical experience set up as standards, so that similar results may be produced with a high degree of fidelity and without resorting to so-called cut and try methods. Applying this to color mixing, let it be assumed that it is desired to reproduce a given color which is composed of a plurality of colors in certain. definite proportions. Unless the original proportions of the compenent colors are known, it will require 1935, Serial No. 8,935

considerable experimentation, or at least an expert knowledge of color combinations to repro- Vduce this given composite color. My invention,

therefore, contemplates the preservation of the original mixing data for a preselected num- 5 ber or group of colors of varying shades and tin'ts, which mixing data consists of the identifications of the component colors and relative proportions of each component color for each color shade and tint of the preselected group, and the presentation of such data in convenient form so as to be readily understood by the ordinary layman. In other Words, the invention provides for the complete analysis for each cornposite color of a group of colors, so arranged that a simple manipulation of the selector will present'the complete analysis for the particular color selected from the group. By following the data presented for any given selection, the originally selected color will be accurately reproduced.

My invention has been designed with a view not only to provide a practical and simple device for use in the actual mixing of coloring mediums such as paints, but also with the aim that it may be equally suited for educational pur- A25 poses, that is, for cultivating the mental analysis ci composite colors. Thus the invention may serve a number of useful purposes, among which rmay be included its utility as a guide for teachers,

students, artists, decorators and painters. 30

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth, and the novel features thereof dened by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of my invention with the parts thereof adjusted to indicate the component *colors and relative proportions required to reproduce a preselected composite color;

Figure 1A is a cross sectional View taken approximately on the line lA-lA of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the indicator dial which is mounted for relative rotation with respect to the base shown in Figure 1, said dial carrying indicia suitably arranged thereon and having a predetermined relation to the color chart depicted on the base.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cover plate or dial which is mounted over the rotatable dial but 50 relatively fixed with respect to the base, said cover plate carrying suitable openings through which the indiciafon the rotatable dial are presented to View, and further carrying indicia oorresponding to the indicia on the rotatable dial, V55

preferably including a color chart of standard basic colors.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the stationary dial illustrating particularly the apertures therein and showing how the indicia of the rotatable dial appear in said apertures.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several gures of the drawing.

The reference character l designates generally the base which carries a color chart 2, the colors of which may be appropriately identified and are preferably arranged in the form of a circular band. For example, this color chart may be composed of a plurality of lblocks or sectors of color disposed in side-by-side relation, each color varying in shade or tint from its adjacent color. It is to be understood that the number of such color shades or tints in the color chart may be increased or decreased as desired, according to the particular use to which the invention is to be applied.

Rotatably mounted upon the base, with its axis of rotation centrally located with respect to the circular band 2, is a dial 3 carrying thereon indicia generally designated 4, said indicia having denite relation to the colors of the color chart 2. The indicia are preferably in the form of letters of the alphabet which identify the component colors from which the various color shades and tints of the color chart 2 are made. The indicia also include the relative proportions or percentages of the component colors indicated by the letters. As will be observed, the indicia on the .rotatable dial 3 are arranged in concentric circles for purposes which will presently appear. Instead of identifying the component colors by letters of the alphabet, it is to be understood that any other appropriate means for such identication may be followed, the letters being preferably used in order to avoid confustion with the proportion or percentage numerals which are associated therewith. For example, a further way of identifying the component colors would be to use color spots7 the colors of which correspond to the component colors which they represent. The spots themselves may or may not be further identified by appropriate letters, numerals, or other symbols.

Extending radially from the rotatable dial 3, is an indicator or pointer 5, which is adapted to coact with the color chart band 2. Rotation of the dial 3 is preferably accomplished through manipulation of the indicator 5.

superimposed on the rotatable dial 3, and suitably supported so as to be maintained relatively stationary with respect to the base i, yet permitting rotation of the dial 3, is a cover plate or stationary dial generally designated 6. This stationary dial is of smaller dimension than the color chart band 2, so as to leave the color chart band exposed to View at all times. A tab 'I extending radially from the edge of the stationary dial and fastened to the base i, may be employed to support the stationary dial. It is to be understood, however, that any suitable means for supporting the stationary dial in spaced relation to the base so as to permit rotation of the intermediate indicia carrying dial may be employed.

The stationary dial t carries a second color chart 8 composed of the individual component basic colors which make up the various color shades and tints of the chart 2, these component colors being preferably arranged in a circular band about the edge of the stationary dial and being appropriately identified by their respective colors, letters corresponding to the letters of the rotatable dial indicia and/or other identifying symbols. Arranged in the stationary dial are apertures 9, which are adapted to expose to view the indicia carried by the rotatable dial 3, there being one aperture for each circle of identifying characters or symbols found on the rotatable dial. The stationary dial thus covers all of the indicia carried by the rotatable dial, except for such indicia as may be exposed through the apertures 9 to identify the component colors and the relative proportions of each, of the color shade and tint of chart E selected at any particular setting of the indicator or pointer 5.

The base and dials may be made from. cardboard, metal, fiber, or any other suitable relatively stiff sheet material. Directions or instructions for the operation of the device may be carried on, or suitably applied to, the base or stationary dial as desired.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the color chart or band 2 may be composed of any number of color shades and tints as desired, each of which may or may not be further identified by its commercial name or a suitable number or symbol. The color chart is preferably composed of the three primary colors red, yellow and blue; also the intermediate colors such as orange, yellow orange, red orange, violet, red violet, blue violet, green, blue green, yellow green; and also black and white. These colors of the color cha-rt E may also be identified by name and by letters or other symbols corresponding to the letters or symbols employed for the identifying indicia 4 on the rotatable dial. All of the shades and tints of the color chart E2 may be derived by mixing in suitable proportion one or more of the primary or intermediate colors with themselves or with black and white of the color chart 8. The colors to be mixed and their relative proportions, for any selected color shade or tint of chart 2, will be identified by the symbols appearing in register with the apertures 9 when the indicator or pointer 5 is moved into register with said selected shade or tint of chart 2.

Should the same letter or equivalent identifying symbol appear simultaneously at more than one aperture, the one with which is associated the highest percentage of that color should be used in mixing the colors directed by the color identifications registering with the apertures for that particular setting.

The operation of the device should be appaient from the foregoing, but for convenience, a brief summary thereof will now be set forth. The pointer or indicator 5 is moved over the base l until it registers or points toi the color shade or tint of chart 2 which is to be analyzed. This operation automatically sets the rotatable dial 3 so that the proper indicia will appear at the apertures 9 to indicate the component colorsl and their relative percentages. These indicia, as hereinbefore mentioned, will preferably take the form of letters of the alphabet associated with proportions or percentages. By referring to the color chart 8 on the stationary dial 6, the colors represented by these letters of the alphabet may be identied. By suitably mixing these colors in the proportions indicated at the apertures for the particular setting, the preselected color shade or tint may be readily reproduced. There is thus eliminated all guesswork and experimentation as well as practical experience and skill in color analysis.

As used herein, the term tint has reference to a tone lighter than the standard color, and the term shade has reference toa tone darker than the standard color.

While the specific details of construction have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto, as changes and alteram tions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A device of the class described, comprising a member having thereon a color chart which includes composite colors and various shades and tints thereof, another member having thereon, a second color chart of basic colors which includes primary and intermediate colors having appropriate identifying indicia associated therewith, said primary and intermediate colors of the second chart constituting the component color parts of the composite colors, shades and tints of the first chart, a member carrying indicia corresponding to the indicia aforesaid together with their proportionate relations, and the second named member having relative movement with respect to and adapted to coact with said last mentioned member for coordinating the indicia of the second chart incident to the preselection of a color, shade or tint of the iirstl= chart, whereby to indicate the component primary and intermediate color parts and relative proportions of the same which produce the preselected color, shade or tint.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a base having thereon a color chart composed of a plurality of sectors of colors and various shades and tints thereof arranged in side-byside relation in the form of a circular band, a dial rotatably mounted on said base, said dial carrying an indicator adapted to coact with the color chart and also carrying color identifying indicia having relation to the colors of the color chart, and a cover plate superimposed on said dial in i'lXed relation to said base and of smaller dimension than the circular color chart band, said cover plate carrying a second color chart composed of basic colors corelated to the indicia on thedial and said cover plate having apertures therein through which said indicia may be presented to View in a manner to selectively identify the basic colors of each color shade and tint of the base color chart.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a base having thereon a color chart composed of a plurality of sectors of colors and various shades and tints thereof arranged in side-by-side relation in the form of a circular band, a dial rotatably mounted on said base, said dial carry- Y ing an indicator extending radially therefrom to coact with the coior chart and also carrying color identifying' indicia having relation to the colors of the color chart, said color identifying indicia being arranged thereon in concentric circular form, and a cover plate superimposed on said dial in fixed relation to said base and of smaller dimension than the circular color chart. band, said cover plate carrying a second color chart composed cf basic colors corelated to the indicia on the dial and having radially aligned apertures therein, one for each indicia circle on the dial, through which said indicia may be presented to view in a manner to selectively lidentify the basic colors of each color, shade and tint of the base color chart.

BENJAMIN B. ROCHLUS. 

